Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
7 August 2001


LETTER TO:  COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE

Ashtead Group plc 
Ordinary Shares of 10p

The Company has been advised by Schroder Investment Management Limited (SIML)
that Schroder interests manage a total of 35,898,199 shares in the Company on a
discretionary basis for clients under investment management agreements as
follows:

1. Managed by SIML

Registered or to be registered in the name of     11,931,826
Schroder Nominees Ltd

Registered or to be registered in the names of
Chase Nominees Ltd                                12,017,021
Chase Nominees Ltd a/c F02391                      4,168,744
MSS Nominees Ltd a/c 766653                        1,683,139
Nortrust Nominees Ltd                              1,000,000
Bank of England                                        4,750
RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                   117,700

                                                                 30,923,180

2.  Managed in unit trusts by Schroder Unit 
    Trusts Ltd and registered in the name of
    Chase Nominees Ltd                                            4,975,019

                                                                 35,898,199

The above interest in 35,898,199 shares in the Company represents an interest of
11.04% in the issued share capital of 325,131,194 shares.

LETTER FROM:  R E Clark (Company Secretary)
              ASHTEAD GROUP PLC